Faculty member, students dig in Hungary

Dr. Dani Riebe, a University of North Georgia (UNG) limited-term faculty member of History, Anthropology & Philosophy, took two students on archaeological research trips to Hungary this spring and summer.

Riebe brought the students along as part of a team of faculty and students from multiple universities on the Prehistoric Interactions on the Plain Project, of which she is project director, and the Körös Consortium project. Both projects have National Science Foundation grants backing their efforts and fully funding student participation.

"We want to train the next generation of archaeologists," Riebe said. "Students need hands-on experiences, and these projects in Hungary provide opportunities to learn archaeological techniques while simultaneously being exposed to different cultures, customs and ideas."

Brandon Kulp, a rising UNG senior from Ludowici, Georgia, pursuing a degree in history with a minor in anthropology, participated on the Körös Consortium project this past spring. During his time on the project, he observed how technology is constantly being integrated into the field as evidenced by drones being utilized to document the progress of excavations through aerial photographs. Moreover, he also learned more about various archaeological specialties, including soil chemistry, remote sensing and household archaeology.

"My research experience in Hungary was quite the adventure for sure. A year ago, I would never have thought I would find myself in Europe," Kulp said. "I was able to do a lot including excavating, artifact processing, and flotation. I knew archaeology required patience and delicacy, like fishing, but it required a bit more than I had originally thought."

These archaeological field projects in Hungary will be offered in the future, and interested students should feel free to reach out to Riebe with their inquiries.